Meet My Two New Beach Assistants!

If you've ever seen me painting on Mawgan Porth beach over the last ten years, you'll know that one thing is almost guaranteed... a Cornish breeze!

While it's one of the reasons I love painting outdoors, it does have one small drawback. Paintings, leaflets and all those little bits and pieces have a habit of trying to make a dash for the sea. Until now, my faithful assistants have usually been a few carefully chosen stones.

Then I had a better idea.

My daughter Claire has been making these beautiful handmade gulls for quite some time, using upcycled and rescued fabrics. I thought they'd be far more fun than a pile of stones, so these two have officially joined me on the beach.

They've already become quite the talking point! So many people have asked about them while I've been painting that I thought they deserved a proper introduction.

As well as keeping my paintings and paperwork exactly where they're should be, they always seem to raise a smile. It's lovely to have something practical that also brings a little extra character to my beach setup.

Each gull is handmade by Claire in Deal, Kent, giving rescued fabrics a new lease of life. I couldn't be prouder of her creativity and love that her work has become part of mine.

Whether they're holding down artwork on a windy Cornish beach, sitting on a bookshelf, acting as a doorstop or becoming part of the family at home, these gulls are full of personality.

So, if you spot two little gulls sitting beside me while I'm painting at Mawgan Porth, you'll know they're not simply decorations... they're my faithful beach assistants, quietly keeping everything in place while I enjoy doing what I love most.